MIRAMAR TACKLES ABANDONED HOMES

For a long time, City Hall has wanted to plow a bulldozer through a few of these abandoned structures. That wish may soon be granted.

The city is close to reaching an agreement with Broward County to allow Miramar to use the county's Unsafe Structures Board, officials said. The system could be quicker and give the city more authority than other methods to demolish abandoned homes.

If successful, Miramar would be the first Broward city to present its cases before the structures board, which decides the fate of about-to-be condemned homes.

The City Commission votes on a related ordinance amendment tonight. The amended ordinance would give Miramar the option of creating its own Unsafe Structures Board or using the county's board.

The benefits to the city are many, officials say. Miramar could more quickly on 10 homes it thinks are beyond repair.

As things now stand, the city can try to pressure an owner to tear down an old house, but it cannot demolish a private home.

Part of the problem is that Miramar doesn't have its own Unsafe Structures Board, which is difficult to create and maintain because it requires an engineer, an appraiser and other technical experts, Community Development Director Walter Fufidio said.

"This is a breakthrough," Fufidio said. "We've got a commitment from the county as long as we take care of the details.

The city would pay for postings, mailings and other administrative costs to the county board, Fufidio said. The city also would provide its employees for home inspections.

For the county, the agreement means getting rid of unsafe homes in Broward, said Assistant County Attorney Daniel Taylor. He said it doesn't make financial sense for a small city to maintain its own Unsafe Structures Board.

"It's right to save money for taxpayers, whether they be in Miramar or in the county in general," Taylor said.

Miramar has 30 vacant homes, most in the older part of the city east of University Drive. About 10 are beyond repair, Fufidio said.

The city hopes to demolish three homes before October. Another four would be destroyed before January, if the city obtains a $169,000 federal housing grant.

The average cost of demolishing a home is $3,500. The city would try to get back some of the money by putting a lien against the property, Fufidio said.

The city now spends about $10,000 a year to cut the grass and provide other maintenance for abandoned homes.